Sensor assembly

Abstract

A sensor assembly includes a metal carrier plate ( 2 ) and a sensor housing ( 3 ) made of plastic, that contains at least one sensor element. The sensor housing ( 3 ) is connected to the carrier plate ( 2 ) by at least one screw ( 5 ) that extends through a through hole ( 6 ) of the carrier plate and is screwed into a screwing channel ( 7 ) defined in the plastic housing material of the sensor housing. As a result, the sensor assembly has a secure screwed connection.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A sensor assembly
 including a metal carrier plate, 
 including a sensor housing that is made of a plastic housing material and that contains at least one sensor element, 
 wherein the sensor housing is connected to the carrier plate by at least one screw that extends through a through hole of the carrier plate, and 
 wherein a screwing channel to receive the screw engaged therein is defined in the plastic housing material. 
 
     
     
       2. The sensor assembly according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the screw and/or the sensor housing is/are adapted to undergo elastic deformation due to a screwing force exerted by the at least one screw acting along a screwing axis of the respective screw. 
     
     
       3. The sensor assembly according to  claim 2 , characterized in that a cavity is arranged between the through hole and the screwing channel such that the sensor housing is supported on the carrier plate at a distance from the screwing channel. 
     
     
       4. The sensor assembly according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the sensor housing includes deformation portions which delimit the cavity, and the deformation portions are adapted to undergo elastic deformation due to the screwing force. 
     
     
       5. The sensor assembly according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the deformation portions are springs or ribs. 
     
     
       6. The sensor assembly according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the carrier plate is adapted to undergo elastic deformation due to a screwing force exerted by the at least one screw acting along a screwing axis of the screw. 
     
     
       7. The sensor assembly according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a cavity is arranged between the through hole and the screwing channel such that the sensor housing is supported on the carrier plate at a distance from the screwing channel. 
     
     
       8. The sensor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the screwing channel is a blind closed-ended hole in the plastic housing material. 
     
     
       9. The sensor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the screw has a thread that engages into the plastic housing material bounding the screwing channel so as to secure the screw and therewith the carrier plate to the sensor housing. 
     
     
       10. The sensor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the screw has a self-tapping thread configured and adapted to cut and self-tap into the plastic housing material bounding the screwing channel. 
     
     
       11. The sensor assembly according to  claim 1 , excluding a separate threaded insert connected to the sensor housing for receiving the screw. 
     
     
       12. A sensor assembly comprising:
 a carrier plate made of metal and having a through hole penetrating therethrough; 
 a housing made of a plastic material and having a screw-receiving channel formed in said plastic material; 
 a sensor in said housing; and 
 a screw that has a screw shaft and a screw thread on said screw shaft, wherein said screw shaft extends through said through hole of said carrier plate and into said screw-receiving channel, and said screw thread engages into said plastic material bounding said screw-receiving channel to secure said screw and therewith said carrier plate to said housing. 
 
     
     
       13. The sensor assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said screw is configured and adapted to undergo an elastic deformation and does undergo said elastic deformation due to a screwing force exerted by said screw between said carrier plate and said housing in a direction along an axis of said screw. 
     
     
       14. The sensor assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said housing is configured and adapted to undergo an elastic deformation and does undergo said elastic deformation due to a screwing force exerted by said screw between said carrier plate and said housing in a direction along an axis of said screw. 
     
     
       15. The sensor assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said carrier plate is configured and adapted to undergo an elastic deformation and does undergo said elastic deformation due to a screwing force exerted by said screw between said carrier plate and said housing in a direction along an axis of said screw. 
     
     
       16. The sensor assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said screw thread is a self-tapping thread, said screw is a self-tapping screw, said screw thread engages into said plastic material by self-tapping a female thread into said screw-receiving channel, said screw-receiving channel has said female thread self-tapped therein only where said screw thread is engaged into said screw-receiving channel, and a portion of said screw-receiving channel extending beyond an end of said screw does not have a thread therein. 
     
     
       17. The sensor assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said screw-receiving channel is a blind closed-ended hole in said plastic material.